Tips from the Trainer: Twitter usernames and Facebook pages

In this weekly series, SM 10X30 fitness trainer and resident social media specialist Nick Shin answers selected questions from program participants, offering tips and insights to help you make the most of your training.

Hi folks. In last week’s Tips from the Trainer, I answered questions about username availability and how limiting your profile affects your social networking. This week, I decided to answer questions specific to Twitter and Facebook.

How do I change my username on Twitter? Why would I want to change my username? How do I cancel a Twitter account so I can reuse my email address?

NS: If you want to simply change your username, you do not need to delete your account. Simply log in and click on SETTINGS, then ACCOUNT, and then find the EMAIL field to change your email address.

There are several reasons why you might want to change your Twitter username:

Branding Opportunities: You want to change the way your name/business is branded. For example, if you are a PR firm or a PR consultant, consider the initials “PR” as part of your username.

Length: You feel your username is too long — shortening the username provides more opportunity for retweets.

Professionalism: You feel your username is inappropriate for professional networking, especially if you want to start using Twitter similarly to LinkedIn.

If you want to delete your account permanently, log in as explained above. However, before you continue, change your email address so that you can reuse the email address you want to use. Once logged in, go to SETTINGS, then ACCOUNT, scroll to the bottom and click DELETE MY ACCOUNT. It takes about 24 hours for the account to be deleted.

Do you have a personal Facebook page and a professional one? I can’t even find the time to keep my personal Facebook page up-to-date, let alone a professional one.

NS: I keep a personal Facebook page and also manage Marketwire’s fan page, so it can be done. Many people create a personal Facebook page meant solely for friends and family members while also maintaining a fan page for business purposes.

If you create a fan page, make time to update it often enough so you don’t lose your fans. As long as you are providing links to resources and relevant articles, as opposed to spamming your fans/followers to promote your products and services, you will continue to gain a steady stream of fans. In terms of priority, business before pleasure, they say! Friends and family will understand your week-old updates, but clients won’t tolerate stale content.

Hope that helps. Thanks to all the SM10x30 participants who submitted their questions. Your dedication and willingness to learn are much appreciated! Keep your questions and feedback coming! Send me an email at nshin [at] marketwire [dot] com.